A: Umbilical cord blood (often called cord blood) is the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta after the baby is born and the cord is cut. Cord blood usually is discarded along with the umbilical cord and placenta. Cord blood, however, is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells. Hematopoietic stem cells are unspecialized cells that produce all blood cells. These include:

Platelets, which are needed for blood clotting

Red blood cells, which transport oxygen to the cells

White blood cells, which help fight disease

Stem cells can be used to treat various genetic disorders that affect the blood and immune system, leukemia and certain cancers, and some inherited disorders of body chemistry.

Q: How are stem cells used to treat disease?

A: Individuals with certain illnesses are treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation that destoys their own stem cells. Following this treatment, they receive a cord blood transplant. The transplanted stem cells make their way to the bone marrow. In the marrow, the stem cells continually make new copies of themselves and produce blood cells that rebuild a healthy immune system.

Stem-cell transplants can be lifesaving for people with leukemia and other cancers, or for those with serious blood disorders. Approved uses for cord blood include:

Hematologic Malignancies

Bone Marrow Failure Diseases

Immune Deficiencies

Inherited Transfusion Dependent Anemias

Metabolic/Storage Diseases

Platelet Diseases

Red Blood Cell Diseases

Sickle Cell Disorders

Thalassemia Disorders

White Blood Cell Diseases

Q: Does it cost me anything to donate cord blood?

A: There is no cost to donate to a public cord blood bank. Public cord blood banks cover the costs of collecting, processing and storing cord blood units.

Q: Will I be informed if this unit is ever used?

A: No, you will not be notified if the cord blood is used for transplant.

Q: How long is the cord blood kept in the bank?

A: No one knows for sure, but it’s possible that cord blood may be kept indefinitely when stored properly.

Q: Why do you need to draw the mother’s blood?

A: Maternal blood is tested for infectious diseases, including hepatitis and AIDS. This is done to reduce the chances of passing on an infectious disease through the transplantation of the cord blood.

Q: Are twins or multiples eligible to donate?

A: No, public banks cannot accept donations if you are having twins. Tissue types are used to match a cord blood unit to a patient, and there could be a possibility of mixing or confusing the tissue types of the two umbilical cords.